The most notable site found in the historical park’s less-travelled southern reaches, the ruins of Wat Chetuphon blend into a quiet village of the same name.
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The prominent feature is a towering brick mondop with the headless remains of huge walking and standing Buddha images on either side. The mondop’s other two sides once enshrined seated and reclining Buddha images, but faint outlines on the bricks are all that can be seen of these today.
The main attraction at Wat Chetuphon. Photo: David Luekens
Surrounded by a moat, Wat Chetuphon is a fairly large complex that also has a wall supported by slate balustrades that imitate wood work. A second, smaller mondop displays faint designs that appear to have been inspired by the pottery of Yuan Dynasty China. A Bodhi tree also stands to the west of the ruins.
Directly across the street from Wat Chetuphon is Wat Chedi Si Hong, another large site with stucco reliefs showing human and animal figures adorning the base of a large chedi.
While these sites aren’t big draws, it’s worth heading down here to see 700-year-old ruins standing next to modest wooden houses. From here you could strike west on the road that begins next to the gas station, near Wat Chetuphon, and enjoy a scenic 11-kilometre ride to the remote Wat Tham Phra Mae Ya, set at the foot of the Khao Luang ... Travelfish members only (Around 100 more words) ... please log in to read the rest of this story.
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By
David Luekens.
Last updated on 16th June, 2016.
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How to get there
From the road that runs along the southern edge of the historical park’s central zone, take a road that cuts south past the ruins of the old city guard post and continue south. Wat Chetuphon will be on the right after 1.5 kilometres, a couple of hundred metres past a gas station.
Location map for Wat Chetuphon
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